February 25, 2025
Civic Center tour, 1976
Lexington Center board chairman Jake Graves, at podium, addressed the media, along with Lexington Mayor Foster Pettit, second from right, and Tom Minter, right, Lexington Center Corp. executive director and general manager, during a hard-hat tour of the unfinished civic center on July 20, 1976. Lexington Center, including Rupp Arena, held its grand opening October 7 to 10, 1976. The Hyatt House Hotel, later to become the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in the background, was under construction and would not open until 1977. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
First Bluegrass 10,000, 1977
Runners made their way along Vine Street in the inaugural Fourth of July 10,000-meter race, which would become known as the Bluegrass 10,000, on July 4, 1977. Swag Hartel of Louisville won the race in a time of 31 minutes, 36 seconds. The Lexington Herald reported that despite the heat, 83 degrees, all 465 runners finished the race. The race started at 4 p.m. This year, the 40th Bluegrass 10,000 starts at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
American Legion parade, 1946
The American Legion and Auxiliary held a parade down Main Street on the eve of their three-day convention on July 7,1946. The parade was led by Man o’ War Post No. 8 drum and bugle corps. It originated at Midland and Main streets and ended at Broadway. It drew a large crowd; people lined the streets and the courthouse steps, hung from the windows of downtown buildings and perched atop parked automobiles. Lexington’s Fourth of July parade will be held Monday and follow the same route down Main Street. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Waiters race, 1984
James Baker, left, and David Trice reacted after spilling a glass of wine in the waiters race on July 4, 1984 in downtown Lexington. The race was part of Lexington’s Fourth of July celebration. Baker and Trice, representing the Lafayette Club, were in first place and were about 20 feet from the finish line when their glass toppled over. Eight seconds were added to a team’s time for every ounce of wine spilled, and that penalty knocked them out of first place. Lexington’s 2016 Fourth of July festival will be held Monday. Photo by Gary Landers | Staff
Mason County’s Chris Lofton, 2003
Under a cloud of confetti, Mason County guard Chris Lofton showed the Rupp Arena crowd who was number one after the Royals beat Ballard in the finals of the Boys’ Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament on March 22, 2003, in Lexington. Lofton, who was named most valuable player, led Mason County to its first state basketball title with a record-tying nine three-pointers in the 86-65 championship game victory. The next year, Lofton added Mr. Basketball honors to his resume. He then went the the University of Tennessee, where he broke the SEC record for career three-pointers: 431. Currently, he has built a professional career playing basketball overseas. Photo by Marck Cornelison | Staff
Rev. Wayne Smith at church dedication, 1964
From left, Edward Cruze, chairman of Southland Christian Church board, the Rev. Wayne B. Smith and Rev. Jack Ballard, guest speaker from Decatur, Ga., looked over a surprise gift, a combination television, radio and record player set, during dedication ceremonies for the church’s new worship center on Hill ‘n’ Dale Road, on Nov. 8, 1964. Smith, 87, who for four decades led what is now Lexington’s largest congregation, died peacefully Tuesday night. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Pat Summitt book signing, 1988
Kathleen Dawson, 6, of Lexington sat on Pat Summitt’s lap as Summitt autographed a copy of her book Reach For the Summit for Kathleen’s mother on April 28, 1998 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington. Kathleen brought Summitt a Kentucky Derby Beanie Baby for Summitt’s son, Tyler. Summitt signed almost 400 books at the event. Summitt, the winningest coach in Division I college basketball history, who lifted the women’s game to national prominence during her 38-year career at Tennessee, died Tuesday, almost five years after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She was 64.
Fayette Courthouse renovation, 1949
Workers placed a new ceiling in the circuit court room of the Fayette County courthouse on Sept. 8, 1949. This was the first in a series of proposed improvements for the judicial chambers. The new ceiling was designed to give better acoustics and had a level surface instead of the ornate ceiling. The last trial was held in the courthouse in 2002, and the Lexington History Center opened in 2003. In 2012, the courthouse was closed because lead paint and asbestos were found in the upper floors. Restoration of the building is currently underway. Published in the Lexington Herald on Sept. 9, 1949. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Herald-Leader building, 1979
The Lexington Herald-Leader building on Midland Avenue was taking shape in June 1979. The newspaper offices had been on Short Street downtown behind the Fayette County courthouse. On Monday, the McClatchy Company, owner of the Herald-Leader, announced that it will outsource printing to the Gannett Co. in Louisville and put the Midland Avenue building up for sale. Photo by John C. Wyatt | Staff
Saratoga restaurant, 1978
The dining room of the Saratoga Restaurant, 856 East High Street in Lexington, in April 1978. The Saratoga was a Chevy Chase landmark and was known for its characters: bookies, college professors, socialites and City Hall types. Tommy “Totsie” Rose opened it in 1953 and named it after the famous Saratoga Race Course in New York. Ted Mims owned it from 1977 to 1989. He bought it from Ed Whitlock, who had bought it from Rose. Rob Ramsey and Joe Reilly, co-owners of Ramsey’s Diner, owned it for a short time. A late-night Toga menu, served from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, featured Mrs. McKinney’s snappy beer cheese ($2.95), fried bologna ($2.50), cold meatloaf on white ($4.95) and fried egg sandwich ($2.50). The hot plate special for a Derby weekend was chicken and dumplings for $6.95. Click here to see an exterior view of the restaurant. Photo by John C. Wyatt | Staff
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